The collection documents the history and repertoire of Polish folk music bands in the greater Detroit area as well as professional careers of musicians. The records date primarily from the 1940's until 1980s. Materials dated 1990s-2000s are primarily transcripts of interviews taken by Gomulka Palazzolo. Records include correspondence, business contracts, performance schedules and programs, sheet music, scanned copies of photographs, copies of Keynote magazine, biographical information and interviews of musicians, performance advertisements, and recordings. The records are arranged into five series as follows: Research files, Detroit Federation of Musicians, Sheet music, Sound recordings, and Visual materials.
Polish folk music bands were a prominent feature of the 20th century greater Detroit's cultural scene. They performed in dance halls, music clubs, as well as at Polish traditional weddings and funerals.
Laurie Palazzolo is daughter and biographer of Ted Gomulka (1919-1998), and biographer of Stanley Adamus (1922-1988), Eddie Nabozny Hoyt (1917-1999) and Helen Nabozny (1919-), Johnny Sadrack (1919-1989), Ted Koltowicz (1927-2000), Stas Wisniach, and other Polish-American musicians.
Ted Gomulka was a prominent Polish-American folk musician of the 20th century. He was a virtuoso trumpet player, arranger and leader of one of the most popular West-side Polish folk music orchestras. Palazzolo titled her book Horn Man after her father. Stanley Adamus was a West-side orchestra leader and one of the most innovative Polish-American musicians of the Polka Era in Detroit. Eddie Nabozny was a self-taught musician, composer, vocalist, and a band leader. His wife Helen Nabozny was one of the few female Polish-American band leaders in Detroit. Johnny Sadrack was a West-side musician, vocalist, composer, arranger, and a radio show host. Ted Koltowicz was an accomplished East-side accordionist, band leader, composer, and radio program host. The collection contains biographical information about these and a number of other Polish-American polka musicians.
Palazzolo is a founding member of the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society and a past officer on the board of directors of the Friends of Polish Art. She is also a president, executive producer of Hornman Detroit, and member of various Polish American cultural and historical organizations. Palazzolo currently serves as the West Side Detroit Polish American Historical Society's Vice President & Executive Director/Secretary.
